Four rescued Chile miners visit Real Madrid's stadium

Four of the 33 miners who survived weeks trapped underground in Chile visited Real Madrid's Stadium yesterday at the invitation of the Spanish giants.

"I am speechless. I couldn't possibly express with words the emotion I feel being here. Coming to the Bernabeu is the most beautiful thing that could happen to me," said Ariel Ticona (29) after he toured the venue. He brought his daughter Esperanza, the Spanish word for hope, who was born while he was trapped deep below the Atacama desert, along for the tour.

Real director general Jorge Valdano showed the four miners the club's nine European Cups besides the dressing room and the pitch.

The four shot pictures of themselves beside a photo of former Chilean striker Ivan Zamora, who player for Real between 1992 and1996.

Esteban Rojas (44), Pablo Rojas (45) and Victor Segovia (48) were the other miners who visited the stadium.
Earlier, Real sent jerseys signed by the squad to the 33 miners, who were rescued after nearly 70 days from over 600 metres underground.